Can this aluminum valve cover be repaired?

[bobs73challenger]

Hi everyone,

My Holley aluminum valve covers just came back from being blasted. They look great. The problem is that part of the lip on the top is apparently broken. They discovered it when they took the grommet out to blast them.

I bought these used and have never used them and apparently didn't do a great job inspecting them.

My question is, can they be repaired? If yes, how? I really like these valve covers and I would love to be able to use them.

I know a tig welder if that will help get me in the right direction.

Any advice is appreciated. I would love to be able to use these valve covers.

[burdar]

Is there a reason why you can't just put a new grommet in the hole and run it?  I don't think that damage would cause a leak and the grommet will cover it up.

You could have the lip welded just so the top surface is level.

[bobs73challenger]

Thanks burdar!

I wasn't sure if the new grommet would seal properly and the old grommet was too hard to get back in. That probably seems like the first reasonable step.

Also, good to know that it can be welded if need be.

Thanks again!

[rUNCHARGER]

I think that's worth a shot with some silicone added to help seal it.

Sheldon

[Strawdawg]

I'm with Burdar on this one.  The seal takes place in the inside diameter of the bore which is pressing on the grommet when it is pressed in...not on the top of the surrounding lip which serves to prevent the grommet from slipping into the rocker train.

[cordodge]

Maybe something like jB weld for aluminum would work once cured you could sand it down flat

[dodj]

just put a new grommet in the hole and run it? 

That's what I would do.

[jimynick]

While having an aluminum head repaired, I was educated that oil/heat-exposed aluminum gets contaminated and is difficult to weld without porosity being an issue. The procedure is clean, weld and if porosity is there, then you grind it out and start again until it works. Not a cheap alternative and then there's the machining to make it look/fit right. A Pyrrhic victory to spend $2-300+ on a $100 set of covers IMHO. I think the advice to silicone the grommet in is a good, cost effective one, but that's just my     

[Racer57]

jimynick is correct. The odds of it being welded and being a good smooth weld are slim due to oil saturation. Put a new grommet in and if it does leak, the use silicone.

[bobs73challenger]

Thanks for the sound advice everyone! I'm going to start with a new grommet and see how that holds up and add a little silicone if need be. Appreciate the help!